Coleus plant named ‘UF11-74-5’

ABSTRACT

‘UF11-74-5’ is a new coleus plant distinguished by having deep maroon colored leaves trimmed in bright yellow, novel growth habit, and desirable late-flowering characteristics, as disclosed.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Plectranthusscutellarioides.

Cultivar denomination: ‘UF11-74-5’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of coleus plantnamed ‘UF11-74-5’. ‘UF11-74-5’ originated from an open pollinationconducted in May-November 2011 in Gainesville, Fla. between the femalecoleus plant ‘UF10-40-9’ (unpatented) and an unknown male coleus plant.A single seedling was chosen in May 2011 for further asexual propagationin Gainesville, Fla. (see FIG. 1 for pedigree).

‘UF11-74-5’ has been reproduced asexually for over two years throughvegetative cuttings and has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive asexual propagations.

‘UF11-74-5’ has not been made publicly available more than one yearprior to the filing date of this application.

When ‘UF11-74-5’ is compared to the female parent ‘UF10-40-9’(unpatented), ‘UF11-74-5’ and ‘UF10-40-9’ have similar foliage colorwith leaves colored deep maroon with bright yellow leaf margins,although ‘UF11-74-5’ is a more vigorous plant with larger leaves and amore spreading growth habit than ‘UF10-40-9’.

When ‘UF11-74-5’ is compared to the commercial cultivar ‘Oxblood’(commercial, unpatented), plants of ‘Oxblood’ have slightly lightermaroon foliage color with a green leaf margin and a much more uprightgrowth habit (taller than wide), whereas ‘UF11-74-5’ has darker maroonfoliage color with more distinct yellow edges and a more spreadinggrowth habit (wider than tall). ‘Oxblood’ also produces flowers earlierthan ‘UF11-74-5’, thus ‘UF11-74-5’ retains more foliage over the courseof a normal growing season in the garden. When ‘UF11-74-5’ is comparedto the commercial cultivar ‘Chocolate Mint’ (commercial, unpatented),plants of ‘Chocolate Mint’ have a dark maroon foliage color with a greenleaf margin and small sized leaves, whereas ‘UF11-74-5’ has similarmaroon foliage color with more distinct yellow edges and much largerleaves. ‘Chocolate Mint’ also produces flowers earlier than ‘UF11-74-5’,thus ‘UF11-74-5’ retains more foliage over the course of a normalgrowing season in the garden.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of ‘UF11-74-5’ when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Gainesville, Fla. ‘UF11-74-5’ has a combination of novelgrowth habit, late season flowering, excellent heat tolerance, andconsistent deep velvety maroon with yellow edge foliage color that issignificantly different than other coleus plants. It has superiorstability in foliage color in both sun and shade conditions, maintainingstable color in all conditions. It has a vigorous mounded, spreadinggrowth habit with excellent lateral branching when grown as a stockplant, thus providing ample vegetative propagules for producers. Thisplant has not been observed to set a significant number of flowers inany trial to date, thus it is desirable for long-season performance inthe landscape, as coleus plants that set seed usually experience lateseason leaf drop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new coleus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs,which show the plant's form and foliage. The colors shown are as true ascan be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs were taken from 3-month-old plants grown from cuttings in1-gallon pots during December 2012-March 2013 in greenhouses inGainesville, Fla.

FIG. 1—shows the pedigree of the claimed plant.

FIG. 2—shows the growth habit, form, and foliage of the claimed plant.

FIG. 3—shows a close-up of the foliage

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘UF11-74-5’. The detailed description was obtainedusing 3-month-old plants from cuttings growing in a glass greenhouse inGainesville, Fla. in early spring 2013. The plants were pinched 2 weeksafter cuttings were rooted, then grown in 1-gallon pots forapproximately 10 weeks. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chartof The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 2007 5th Edition.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Lamiaceae.        -   Botanical.—Plectranthus scutellarioides.        -   Common name.—Coleus.        -   Cultivar name.—‘UF11-74-5’.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Spreading.        -   Habit.—Mounded.        -   Height (from top of soil).—25 cm. Width (horizontal plant            diameter): 57 cm.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cuttings.—Vegetative meristems having at least 1 node.        -   Time to initiate roots.—3-4 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—7-10 days.        -   Root habit.—Fibrous.        -   Root description.—Callus forms in 2 to 3 days, roots            initiate in 3-4 days and become a highly branched cutting in            7-10 days.-   Branches:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—6 main branches per plant with numerous            side branches, pinched once.        -   Branch color.—RHS 144A.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Pubescence.—Not present.        -   Stem description.—Square-shaped stem, 1.5 cm in diameter at            the soil line.        -   Branch diameter.—0.7 cm at the base of an 18-cm long branch.        -   Branch length.—18 cm.        -   Internode length.—2-5 cm.        -   Anthocyanin.—N/A.-   Leaves:    -   -   Quantity of leaves per branch.—12 to 14. Arrangement:            Opposite.        -   Fragrance.—Not fragrant.        -   Shape.—Ovate, consistent.        -   Length.—10-11 cm.        -   Width.—8-9 cm.        -   Apex.—Broadly acuminate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Leaf texture (both surfaces).—Pubescent upper surface,            smooth lower surface.        -   Pubescence color (both surfaces).—Non-descript with naked            eye — adds velvety appearance.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS N92A. Lower surface: RHS            145C.        -   Venation pattern.—Upper surface: Reticulate. Lower surface:            Reticulate.        -   Color.—Immature leaf: Upper surface: RHS 59A in the center            of the leaf, with RHS 139D margins. Lower surface: RHS N92A            in the center of the leaf, irregularly transitioning to RHS            139D toward the leaf edge.        -   Color.—Mature leaf: Upper surface: RHS 59A in the center of            the leaf, with RHS 139D margins. Lower surface: RHS N92A in            the center of the leaf, irregularly transitioning to RHS            139D toward the leaf edge. Petiole length: 3-6 cm. Petiole            diameter: 0.3-0.4 cm. Petiole color: RHS 144B.-   Flowers and seeds: Flowers and seeds have not been observed to date.-   Fruit/seed set: Fruit/seed not observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Disease and insect resistance is    typical of the species, thus no claims are made of any superior    disease or insect resistance with this cultivar. The most common    insect pests observed on this plant in Gainesville, Fla. have been    long-tailed or citrus mealybugs (Pseudococcus sp.), which occur on    older stock plant material held in the greenhouse for over 3-4    months. Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (Bunyaviridae) has also been    observed in plants confined in greenhouses with mixed crops    (peppers) infected with Western flower thrips (Frankliniella    occidentalis). The most common pathogen of this species in the U.S.    is downy mildew (Pernonspora lamii). This pathogen has been observed    in stock materials grown closely together in cooler growing seasons.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Plectranthus scutellarioidesplant called ‘UF11-74-5’ as described and illustrated herein.